Drive axle assembly

Abstract

A drive assembly for vehicular use, particularly for use with electric vehicles, includes a primary rotatable housing having an internally mounted hub which is rotatable responsive to rotation of the primary housing with the primary housing being mounted to a vehicular frame. A spider gear assembly is mounted to the hub with a pair of wheel supporting axles mounted at the spider gear assembly in an opposing disposition with each axle being rotatable at independent velocities responsive to rotation of the primary housing.

We claim: 
     
       1. A drive axle assembly for vehicular use said drive axle assembly comprising: a primary rotatable housing having a hub mounted internally thereof and rotatable responsive to rotation of said primary housing, said housing being rotatably mountable to a vehicular frame, and a first central portion having said hub mounted therein for rotation of said hub therewith and;   a spider gear assembly mounted in said first central portion and having a spider gear housing with a plurality of spider gears disposed therein, said spider gear housing being mounted to said hub and rotatable therewith responsive to rotation of said primary housing;   a pair of generally cylindrical elongate second housing portions mounted to said first central housing portion in an opposing disposition to extend outwardly therefrom and being rotatable therewith; and   a pair of wheel supporting axles mounted to said spider gear assembly in an opposing disposition to extend outwardly therefrom, said wheel supporting axles being rotatable and telescopically mounted in said second housing portions, each said axle being rotatable at independent velocities responsive to rotation of said primary housing.   
     
     
       2. A drive axle assembly according to claim 1 and further comprising means for rotatably driving said primary housing mounted thereto. 
     
     
       3. A drive axle assembly according to claim 2 wherein said drive means includes at least one pulley mounted to said primary housing for rotation of said housing responsive to driving rotation of said pulley. 
     
     
       4. A drive axle assembly according to claim 2 wherein said drive means includes a first pulley mounted to one of said second housing portions and a second pulley mounted to the other of said second housing portions, with said first pulley being formed with a diameter greater than the diameter of said second pulley with both of said pulleys being selectively drivable by a vehicular propulsion system, said first pulley being for rotation of said primary housing with a first torque value and said second pulley being for rotation of said primary housing with a second torque value, said first torque value being greater than said second torque value. 
     
     
       5. A drive axle assembly according to claim 1 wherein said primary housing includes a first central portion having said hub and said spider gear assembly mounted therein for rotation of said hub therewith and a pair of generally cylindrical elongate second housing portions integrally formed with said first housing portion to extend outwardly therefrom in an opposing disposition and being rotatable therewith with said wheel supporting axles rotatably and telescopically mounted therein. 
     
     
       6. A drive axle assembly according to claim 1 wherein said primary housing includes a central cylindrical cavity having an inner wall portion and said hub is formed as a disc having an outer perimeter surface, said perimeter surface being fixed to said inner surface of said primary housing for simultaneous rotation therewith. 
     
     
       7. A drive axle assembly according to claim 6 wherein said spider gear assembly is concentrically mounted to said hub. 
     
     
       8. A drive axle assembly for vehicular use, said drive axle assembly comprising: a primary rotatable housing having a hub mounted internally thereof and rotatable responsive to rotation of said primary housing, said primary housing including a first central portion having said hub mounted therein for rotation of said hub therewith and a pair of generally cylindrical elongate second housing portions associated with said first housing portion to extend outwardly therefrom in an opposing disposition and being rotatable therewith with a pair of wheel supporting axles rotatably and telescopically mounted therein, said housing being rotatably mountable to a vehicular frame;   a spider gear assembly having a spider gear housing with a plurality of spider gears disposed therein, said spider gear housing being mounted to said hub and rotatable therewith responsive to rotation of said primary housing; and   said wheel supporting axles mounted to said spider gear assembly in an opposing disposition to extend outwardly therefrom, each said axle being rotatable at independent velocities responsive to rotation of said primary housing.   
     
     
       9. A drive axle assembly according to claim 8 and further comprising means for rotatably driving said primary housing, said drive means including a first pulley mounted to one of said second housing portions and a second pulley mounted to the other of said second housing portions, with said first pulley being formed with a diameter greater than the diameter of said second pulley with both of said pulleys being selectively drivable by a vehicular propulsion system, said first pulley being for rotation of said primary housing with a first torque value and said second pulley being for rotation of said primary housing with a second torque value, said first torque value being greater than said second torque value. 
     
     
       10. A drive axle assembly according to claim 8 wherein said primary housing includes a central cylindrical cavity having an inner wall portion and said hub is formed as a disc having an outer perimeter surface, said perimeter surface being fixed to said inner surface of said primary housing for simultaneous rotation therewith. 
     
     
       11. A drive axle assembly according to claim 10 wherein said spider gear assembly is concentrically mounted to said hub.